4 Solutions to Bribery and Corruption in Ghana

4 Solutions to Bribery and Corruption in Ghana are listed and discussed herein. There is a need to proffer solutions to this problem

What is the simple definition of bribery?

Bribery is defined as the offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving of any item of value in order to influence the acts of a public or legal official. The solicitation of a bribe is equally illegal, and it must be completed whether or not the solicitation culminates in the acceptance of a valuable gift.

Bribery In Ghana

Ghana is one of the countries in the world that has found itself in a situation where bribery has taken hold of morality.

People at all levels bend the rules of justice and liberty in order to satisfy their unquenchable desire for money. Bribery is when you give someone something in exchange for something that isn’t lawfully yours.

This affects every sector of the economy. A failing student must bribe the lecturer in cash or in kind, a young politician must bribe the so-called ‘godfathers,’ an underperforming candidate must bribe delegates, and an employee must bribe the boss.

While bribes are offered and collected, it is important to remember that once given, a bribe causes the giver to forfeit his or her integrity and moral standards. So, how can bribery in Ghana be decreased or eliminated?

Causes of Corruption in Ghana

In recent times, increasing concern and attention is being paid towards corruption, its consequences, and solutions to put an end to corruption. The high surge in corruption is due to three major factors.

• (1) The fact that corruption is universal, and exists everywhere in the world. It exists in all countries, both developed and developing, in the public and private sectors, as well as in non-profit and charitableorganizations.
• (2) The issues of allegations and charges related to corruption play a more pivotal in rolein politics nowadays than at other times. Several governments and public figures have faced down-fall,and loss of reputation in public, impacting heavily on the country’s economy and businesses.
• (3) The most significant of all is the fact that corruption is regarded as a major obstacle in the way of economic development of a country, consequently halting the process of a country’s efforts towards modernization.The developing nations have become increasingly concerned about corruption due to the adverse impacts on economy and development processes. Therefore, the countries and institutions now feel theneed to put corruption on high priority list and methods to root out this evil from the face of the world.

Here are Solutions to Bribery in Ghana

Everything should be controlled digitally and technologically.

Bribery will be greatly reduced if everything is done through a built-in system that man has little or no influence over. When the system has been coded and tampered with is easily spotted, who would you offer the bribe to? Bribery will always take center stage as long as man has a say in the activities of an industry or a government.

People should be taught about their rights and given the necessary support if their rights are violated.

For example, workers in the transportation industry are frequently forced to pay police officers on the road for no apparent reason. It has all of a sudden become the standard to pay a bribe.

Anyone who does not provide them with something is causing them undue delay. Motorists who understand their rights and where each agency’s jurisdiction ends will be able to reduce bribery in their industry and generate more money for themselves.

Bribery should be strictly prohibited and punished in both the private and public sectors.

The truth is that where there is no law, order is typically far away; nevertheless, when the law comes with harsh penalties for violators, people sit up, buckle their shoes, and try as hard as they can to avoid infringing the rules of the land.

Although making legislation is not enough, relevant agencies should notify the public when a defaulter is caught and appropriate penalty measures should be taken.

Various places of worship, religious groups should promote anti-bribery themes.

Bribery has unfortunately infiltrated even religious institutions. Religious leaders should wake up and preach anti-bribery messages to their congregations, as well as educate them on their individual rights and privileges.

Bribery, on the other hand, can only be minimized; it is nearly difficult to eradicate it because it is in man’s blood to buy his way into anyone’s heart, especially when he wants to rise to the top. Nigerians should be cautious while accepting presents, as no gift is truly free. It’s possible that some of them are bribes.